Underage Possession of Alcohol

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Criminal charges in Virginia such as underage possession of alcohol can be charged to anyone under age 21 accused of purchasing or possessing an alcoholic beverage. That individual will face a driver’s license suspension of up to six months, a fine, probation and up to 50 hours of community service. A charge of “minor in possession” can also be filed simply because alcohol was detected in the young person’s system.

As inconvenient as those penalties may be the real consequences of a conviction may not be apparent until a young adult applies to college, interviews for a new job or other life events come up. A key point to consider is by paying a fine and accepting a sentence, some people plead guilty and establish a criminal record without realizing that an alternative exists.

You may be eligible for first-offender treatment, which leads to a dismissal of the charge once you complete community service and other requirements. Additionally, it may be possible to avoid a suspended license.

Further, if your Constitutional Rights were violated, our lawyers can leverage that information with prosecutors or fight the charge in court.

Dealing with a criminal charge is difficult for anyone but for college students and other young adults, a criminal conviction could have a negative impact on their education, financial aid and career opportunities. If you or your child is facing criminal charges in Virginia, it is important to understand what potential defenses exist. The experienced lawyers of Petrovich and Walsh P.L.C. engage the most effective strategies to obtain the best possible result for our clients when faced with criminal charges in Virginia.